Companies' offers of help could solve rooster noise problem in Pembroke

Tuesday

Jul 18, 2017 at 1:18 AMJul 18, 2017 at 1:21 AM

Adam Silva adsilva@wickedlocal.com @AdamSMariner

PEMBROKE – With the help of technology, Town Health Agent Lisa Cullity came to the aid of a rooster owner Monday night.

During its meeting Monday night, the board of health heard a noise complaint about the five roosters owned by Kaitlyn Bergin of 94 Mattakeesett St.

Rich and Donna Restucci of 90 Mattakeesett St. made the complaint, saying the noise problem has existed for some time.

A town bylaw prohibits excessive noise between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. on weekdays and between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. on weekends. The Restuccis say Bergin’s roosters make noise within those periods.

Bergin said moving the rooster’ coop to the other side of her property would probably help, but also that she’d have to hire a company to do the job using a skid steer loader. She said the bill would be in the hundreds of dollars, which she couldn’t afford.

Cullity, who was at the hearing, began texting local companies to see if they could help Bergin out. Within minutes, Smith & Sons of Pembroke and A.E. Wood Trucking of Hanson had offered their services free of charge.

“We always have to enforce the law here at the board of health, and that’s hard because sometimes the law isn’t fair to someone emotionally – especially someone attached to an animal,” Cullity said. “What’s amazing about this community is that you can reach out to some of the businesses out there ... and they literally jump at the chance to help someone out.”

After hearing from Bergin and the Restuccis, board Chairwoman Donna Bagni and board member Gary Fine said “progress needed to be made.” A follow-up hearing will be held Monday, Aug. 7.

“Given the situation and the feelings of people involved, I think that it is reasonable and acceptable to at least give the homeowner an opportunity to be able to make adjustments to be able to keep all of the feathered friends,” Bagni said. “This was the first time that it was escalated to the point of coming to the board. It would be different if this were an ongoing occurrence.”

Bergin has more than two dozen animals, nearly all of which she rescued.Adam Silva may be reached at adsilva@wickedlocal.com.